Music Studio Startup: Helping music teachers thrive as entrepreneurs: Recent Episodes
Andrea Miller
The podcast about all things business for music teachers and studio owners. Learn how to brand, market, and grow your music studio. Hear stories of creative music teachers who are taking on other cool entrepreneurial projects. Get answers to your self-employment questions from experts. Hosted by entrepreneur, business coach, and piano teacher, Andrea Miller.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Jess Homewood.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot034.
Music Studio Business Building 101: Summer 2025 cohort happening now!
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Business Finance for Music Teachers
A new cohort of our Business Building 101 course is starting this week! If you’re launching a studio, rebuilding after a move, or just want to build a more intentional, financially sustainable business, this course is designed to help you do exactly that—with clarity, structure, and support.
And today’s guest is a perfect example of what can happen when you combine a fresh start with the right tools.
Mimi Zhang is the 2024 grand prize winner of our Studio Launch Grant competition. As part of her prize package, Mimi received a $1,000 startup grant, gift cards to Alamo Music and Alfred Publishing, and enrollment in the Music Studio Startup Business Building 101 course, and more—all of which she put to great use as she launched her studio in a brand-new city.
When Mimi won the grant competition, she had just finished grad school, moved across the country, and was starting from scratch. In less than a year, she grew her studio from just three in-person students to nearly 40, added group classes, implemented strong business systems, and started building the studio she really wanted.
In our conversation, Mimi shares the strategies that helped her grow quickly and sustainably, the mindset shifts that made a big difference early on, and how she’s continuing to evolve her studio now that the foundation is in place.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode167.
Music Studio Business Building 101: Summer 2025 cohort starting this week!
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today's episode is part two of a super interesting two-part conversation with Sam Reti, a music teacher and a visionary behind the popular online music lesson platform Muzie.Live. If you haven't listened to the first part, I highly encourage you to go back and listen to that one too. In this episode, Sam shares how a college class at Berkeley, countless Uber and Lyft rides and a whole lot of Chipotle burritos helped launch his first business. And why learning when to quit was just as important as knowing when to keep going.
We talk about how the first app idea morphed into a second, and then a third, which is the music we know today. We talk about the decision to bootstrap instead of raising investor money, how Sam adapted when his original business idea didn't pan out, and what he's learned about growing a customer base organically in the music education world.
Sam gives an honest behind the scenes look at startup life complete with all the messy, unglamorous realities you don't usually hear about. Here's my conversation with Sam.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode166.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today's episode is part one of a super interesting two-part conversation with Sam Reti, a music teacher and the visionary behind the popular online music lesson platform Muzie.Live. In this episode, Sam shares how a college class at Berkeley, countless Uber and Lyft rides, and a whole lot of Chipotle burritos helped launch his first business. And why learning when to quit was just as important as knowing when to keep going.
We talk about how his first app idea morphed into a second and then a third, which is the Muzie we know today. We talk about the decision to bootstrap instead of raising investor money. How Sam adapted when his original business idea didn't pan out, and what he's learned about growing a customer base organically in the music education world.
Sam gives an honest behind the scenes look at startup life complete with all the messy unglamorous realities you don't usually hear about.
Here's my conversation with Sam.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode165.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
This time of year I get a lot of financial questions from teachers. We’ve just gotten through the holiday spending spree, new year’s might have inspired some financial goal-setting, and then there’s the looming tax deadline in April, so there’s a lot to think about.
Sometimes the questions I get are really specific to an individual, but lately a bunch of clients and listeners have said “hey, you talk about reviewing financials on a regular basis as a way of getting more familiar with my financial picture, but what exactly should I be reviewing?”
And they’re totally right, I haven’t been very specific here. So today I’m going to do that.
I’m going to show you how to find some key numbers on your tax return that can give you powerful insights into your business and personal finances.
A full transcript along, with printable + digital resources to supplement this episode, can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode164.
💻📈Tax Insights Workshop: Making Sense of Your Tax Return
Thur. April 24 at 10am Central
👉Register Here
If you’ve ever thought about expanding from being a solo, independent teacher to hiring teachers and assumed your first step would be to rent a commercial space, think again.
Today’s guest shares how the studio she started with a few students in her living room eventually grew to serve 200 students and took over her family’s entire home.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode163.
Tax Insights Workshop
Thur. April 24 @ 10am Central
Sign up for that workshop at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/taxinsights/.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
With the MTNA conference right around the corner, we got Charles Harris, CPA back on the podcast to discuss tax deductions for business travel and attending conferences. We talk about common expenses associated with business travel, which ones are deductible and which ones aren’t.
We answer questions like:
- Are meals 100% deductible when I’m traveling?
- Can I deduct my plane ticket it I pay for it with points?
- If my family is traveling with me, can I deduct their travel expenses?
- If I book a local hotel for a staycation and teach a virtual lesson while I’m there, can I count it as a business trip?
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode162.
FREE Webinar: Self-Employment Tax Crash Course
Tax help for music teachers: MSS Tax + Accounting Services
Join the Hub: MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Today I’m talking to the Christina Whitlock - an independent piano teacher whose studio has flexed and changed many times throughout her career to adapt to what she wants and needs out of life and business in different seasons.
If you are familiar with Christina and her podcast, Beyond Measure, you know she is a huge encourager for music teachers and you’ll get a huge dose of that in this episode. We also hear about some big changes she’s made in her own studio over the the last several years, how she rolled out the changes, what worked and what didn’t, what she’s learned about evaluating change, and more.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode161.
Music Teacher Tax Prep and Accounting Services
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Music Studio Startup Snapshot 009 – Christina Whitlock
We’ve had a lot of tax talk on the podcast lately and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I get it. I promise we’ll keep it to a minimum today, but I do want to let you know about an upcoming webinar that I will be co-presenting with our CPA, Charles! Join us on Thur, February 6 for our Self-Employment Tax Crash Course. You can register for that at musicstudiostartup.com/tax. That’s it! That’s all I’m going to say about taxes.
Let’s hear a good ol’, inspiring studio success story. I think a lot of listeners are going to relate to today’s guest. Alison had been teaching for a number of years, had a nice-sized studio, and was beginning to feel the drag of teaching into the evening hours. So she decided to do something about it. She set out to shift her schedule to more daytime hours. She successfully made that shift (with some genius networking strategies!) and the result was… not what she expected!
Listen in to hear how Alison made (and continues to make) effective shifts in her studio and what she has learned along the way.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode160.
💰Register for the Crash Course in Self-Employment Taxes Feb. 6 at 11am Central
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Charles and Andrea sit down to answer some of the questions we’ve been getting about our new tax prep services for music teachers!
- Can I self-file taxes?
- What are the tax deadlines I need to be aware of?
- What is the mileage deduction? How does the mileage deduction work?
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode159.
FREE Webinar: Self-Employment Tax Crash Course - Thur, Feb 6, 2025
MSS Tax + Accounting Services
Join the Hub: MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Q1 Mastermind Groups start Jan 27
Happy new year! For a lot of studio owners, January represents the beginning of tax season so I’ve got Charles Harris, a CPA, as our guest today to talk about all things self-employment taxes.
We’ll cover a bunch of things including the earning thresholds for when you need to earn to start filing taxes and what to do if you did not earn a profit in your business this year (spoiler: it can benefit you to file anyway!). We’ll also talk about what’s different for the 2024 tax year and what we know (and don’t know) about expected changes for the 2025 tax year.
Plus, we’ll share an exciting announcement about new services coming to Music Studio Startup this year and a new perk for Hub members!
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode158.
MSS Tax Prep + Accounting Services for Music Teachers
Join the Hub: MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Q1 Mastermind Groups start Jan 27
If you've ever wished you could travel, but have told yourself that you can't take time off or it's too expensive or whatever, this interview will have you rethinking those assumptions.
Today, I'm talking to a returning guest about how he has designed his studios, plural, to be able to take extended backpacking trips every year. We talk about budgeting for the trips, how he preps his students and teachers, and how he keeps things on track while he's away. Here's my conversation with Noah.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode157.
A quick reminder that next Tuesday, Dec. 10 is our BOIR Filing Party. If you have an LLC and it’s been on your To Do list to file this report, join us!
If you missed Episode 156 where I talked about the new BOIR filing requirement for LLC owners, you’ll definitely want to check it out.
📅 Register for our BOIR Filing Party on Tues, Dec. 10
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Today’s episode is more of a public service announcement for studio owners who have businesses that are registered in the US.
On January 1, a new reporting requirement from the US Treasury Department went into effect and it might impact you. I’m talking about the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting rule or BOI Reporting requirement from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the Corporate Transparency Act.
Today I’m going to share what I learned in my research of the ruling. I’m going to go through this in a Q&A format that traces the path I took and the questions that came up for me as I determined whether or not I would be eligible and then what the registration process entailed.
Hopefully it’ll help you jumpstart your own research.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode156.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and I’m not giving legal advice here. This is strictly for informational purposes and it’s up to you to ensure your business is in compliance with all applicable laws.
📅 Register for our BOIR Filing Party on Tues, Dec. 10
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Sean Murphy is a saxophone teacher who managed to teach 112 students on a weekly basis by teaching in schools, during the school hours.
In our interview, Sean shares his scheduling strategies, communication tips, and how he keeps his income up in leaner summer months.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode155.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today’s podcast episode is part 2 of a two part conversation with a returning guest. Christopher Maloney was on the podcast last year to talk about founding Practice Warriors, an online practice program aimed at teen and adult students. You can hear that story in Episode 132.
In that conversation, Christopher mentioned that he had formerly owned a multi-teacher music studio, which he sold. That was too big a topic to get into in our last conversation, but I knew I wanted to hear that story, so I’m grateful to Christopher for making the time for another interview.
In the first part of the interview we hear the startup story and Christopher’s take on the 5 things he credits for the success of his studio. Teaser: his wife, Christina, has a PR background and you can hear that influence in the out-of-the-box marketing strategies they used to launch the studio.
In the second part, which you’ll hear next week, we get into the numbers and money side: we talk about startup costs, how they priced lessons, how they financed the building, and how they eventually sold the studio. You’ll hear us talk a lot about “equity” in this episode, I’ll unpack that a bit in my recap, as well. It’s not something that gets talked about very much in the context of music studios, but I think it’s an important concept for business owners to get familiar with, so we’re going to talk about it.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode154.
Today’s podcast episode is part 1 of a two part conversation with a returning guest. Christopher Maloney was on the podcast last year to talk about founding Practice Warriors, an online practice program aimed at teen and adult students. You can hear that story in Episode 132.
In that conversation, Christopher mentioned that he had formerly owned a multi-teacher music studio, which he sold. That was too big a topic to get into in our last conversation, but I knew I wanted to hear that story, so I’m grateful to Christopher for making the time for another interview.
In the first part of the interview we hear the startup story and Christopher’s take on the 5 things he credits for the success of his studio. Teaser: his wife, Christina, has a PR background and you can hear that influence in the out-of-the-box marketing strategies they used to launch the studio.
In the second part, which you’ll hear next week, we get into the numbers and money side: we talk about startup costs, how they priced lessons, how they financed the building, and how they eventually sold the studio. You’ll hear us talk a lot about “equity” in this episode, I’ll unpack that a bit in my recap, as well. It’s not something that gets talked about very much in the context of music studios, but I think it’s an important concept for business owners to get familiar with, so we’re going to talk about it.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode153.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today's conversation is one about being a lifelong learner, managing competing priorities and finite time, and aligning a team to work towards a shared vision.
Most of us can probably relate to at least some of these things from our roles as teachers and studio owners, but my guest today is neither a music teacher nor a studio owner.
Today I’m talking to Bradley Kunda, a musician and Product Owner for the popular music notation app, MuseScore.
Being on a software team, Bradley brings a really different perspective to these topics that I think you're going to enjoy and learn a lot from.
Here’s my conversation with Bradley:
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode152.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
For the first time in two years, we’re forming a cohort of teachers to go through Business Building 101 together! Join today at musicstudiostartup.com/BB101
You’ll get weekly video lessons to complete whenever it’s convenient and you can join the live office hours to get personalized help and hang out with other teachers in the cohort.
Today’s mini interview comes from Jenica Nevala, a music school owner who already had a few years of studio-building under her belt before she joined the Business Building 101 cohort.
During the program, she made some significant changes in her policies that have made her business more sustainable and she later ran a bold promotion that brought in 10 new students in a week.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode151.
Cohort starting 9/23: Music Studio Business Building 101
Community: MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Course: Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today’s episode is a rebroadcast of one of the earliest episodes of Music Studio Startup, but it has stood the test of time.
It’s worth noting that at the time of recording, my guest Shannah’s podcast was called “Millennial Money”, but the name has since changed to “Everyone’s Talkin’ Money.” Here’s the episode:
If you’re in the first few years of your career, money can be a complicated topic. You may be trying to balance bills and student loan payments while still investing in your business. On top of that, if you’re self-employed, you have to figure it out all on your own!
In today’s show, you’ll be introduced to Shannah Compton Game, a Certified Financial Planner and the host of the Millennial Money podcast.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode150.
Cohort starting 9/23: Music Studio Business Building 101
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Quarter 2 wrapped up for us at the end of July so we’re bringing you another quarterly recap. You’ll get to hear what’s going on behind the scenes with our team. Today I’m joined again by Cindy from the MSS team. If you listened to our Q1 recap in Episode146 you’ll recognize her voice.
Episode 146 – 2024 Q1 Recap with Cindy Hsu
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode149.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Ivan Kolar.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot032.
As many of you know, this year marks our third Studio Launch Grant Competition. We received a record number of inspiring applications this year and last week I announced our seven finalists. After much angst and deliberation, our judges have finally chosen a winner.
Thank you to the sponsors that made this year’s competition possible: Alfred Music, Fons, MakeMusic Cloud, Muzie.Live, Alamo Music. We couldn’t have done it without them!
Learn about future grant opportunities: MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2024-grant-winner.
2024 Music Studio Launch Grant Competition Sponsors
Music Studio Startup
Alfred
Fons
makemusic cloud
Muzie.Live
Alamo Music
Previous Winners
Scarlette Kerr
Anna Showalter
Other Resources for Music Teachers
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Ali Hoffman.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot031.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot030.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Jeremy Eikenberry.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot029.
This is the third time Music Studio Startup has hosted our grant competition for new and new-ish music teachers and this year’s competition is going to be epic, thanks to the generous support of our amazing sponsors! Listen in to hear about the incredible grand prize package up for grabs that includes a $1,000 cash grant, plus tools and resources to help launch your studio.
P.S. We know money can be tight for EVERY new studio owner and our sponsors get this, too, Spoiler alert: we’ve also got APPLICANT PRIZES to help every new teacher get their studio off the ground!
Apply today: MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2024-grant-announcement.
2024 Music Studio Launch Grant Competition Sponsors
Music Studio Startup
Alfred
Fons
makemusic cloud
Muzie.Live
Alamo Music
Previous Winners
Scarlette Kerr
Anna Showalter
Other Resources for Music Teachers
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Shannon Saravia.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot028.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Megan Schraer.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot027.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Cheyenne Olson.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot026.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Dorla Aparicio.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot025.
$1,000 MSS Music Studio Launch Grant Competition
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Ann Lemke.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot024.
Today’s episode was prompted by questions I get from newly-graduated or soon-to-be graduated music majors who are just getting ready to launch their studios and want to know how to get started from nothing.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode148.
Applications for the 2024 Studio Launch Grant Competition open in June!
$1,000 Studio Launch Grant competition
My conversation today is the second in a set of two interviews from first-time parents talking about how they planned for parental leave. In both, the episode with Renee Shaw Nutwell and today’s episode with Jeremy Eikenberry, we talk about the goals these teachers had for their students and studios during their leave, how they attempted to plan for something that they didn't have full control over, how their plans played out in real life, how they transitioned back into teaching, and what they learned from the experience.
Our discussion centers around taking parental leave after the birth of a child, but the insights and takeaways translate to taking extended leave from a studio for any reason: vacation, sabbatical, health reasons, whatever.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode147.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Summary It’s time for another quarterly check-in! Today I’m joined by Cindy Hsu, Director of Partnerships and Business Development at Music Studio Startup and we’re talking about our (very full!) Q1 and what we’re looking forward to in Q2.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode146.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode146.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today we’re talking about all things non-profit management. My guest, Erin Parkes, founder of the Lotus Centre shares so many insights from her experiences working with a board of directors, crafting effective messaging for different stakeholders, managing a budget, and even dealing with burnout. All while keeping the mission of her organization front and center.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode145.
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Business Finance for Music Teachers
With the MTNA conference in March, I guess you could say I’ve been on a conference kick. We talked about Networking with Stephanie Bonte-Lebair in Episode 141, I shared my takeaways from MTNA in Episode 142, and then last week I did a live Networking Debrief workshop with a group of teachers and, together, we went through our own lists of people we want to build deeper relationships with and figured out next steps. (Teachers on the call identified some really neat opportunities that have the potential to seriously impact their businesses.)
Today we’re covering another conference-related topic: how to get started speaking at conferences. My guest is one you’ve heard from before on the podcast - and maybe even heard present in person. Amy Chaplin has given over 35 presentations for state and national events and local teacher groups. Today she’s sharing with us some tips for writing proposals and getting accepted to speak at conferences.
Here’s my conversation with Amy.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode144.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today I’m joined by Jennifer Foxx, a teacher who has been blogging and creating curriculum and resources for music teachers for over a decade.
In our conversation, we talk about how she took the simplest route at first and started her business on Teachers Pay Teachers and has since strengthened her business by investing in platforms she owns, like her own website and email list. We also talk about the seasonality she experiences, how she thinks about pricing, and trends she has observed pre- and post-covid.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode143.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Studio Launch Grant Competition
Last week I was at the MTNA National conference in Atlanta. Georgia. It was a whirlwind - as conferences usually are - and I think I’m still absorbing everything.
I wanted to go over three things today: first - some personal reflections from MTNA, second - I want to share some of my business takeaways, and third - I want to invite you to a workshop next week.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode142.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
In my original interview with Stephanie, she talked about the role business networking played in the marketing of her business and she talked about it with such intentionality that I knew I wanted to learn more.
So today we’re talking about everything, from how to choose events to network at, how to prepare, how Stephanie makes the most of her time at an event, her follow-up routines, examples of weak and strong calls to action and more. Get your notepad ready because you’ll want to take notes.
If this topic of networking makes you uneasy, at least listen until you hear Stephanie’s definition of business networking. A lot of us have probably had an experience with someone who was “networking” that was so obnoxious that we found the very concept repulsive. I think Stephanie’s approach will be refreshingly different and one that most teachers can get excited about. People who are doing networking well are not obnoxious and you don’t have to become obnoxious - in fact, please don’t - to build your business through networking.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode141.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today’s conversation with Stephanie Bonte-Lebair is a rebroadcast of an early episode of Music Studio Startup that has always been a fan favorite.
Stephanie is a classically-trained opera singer turned voice/presentation/sales coach. This interview blurs the line between an entrepreneurial music teacher sharing the evolution of her voice studio and a communication expert sharing a mini sales workshop. It’s one you’ll want to listen to more than once!
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode140.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today’s episode is more of a public service announcement for studio owners who have businesses that are registered in the US.
On January 1, a new reporting requirement from the US Treasury Department went into effect and it might impact you. I’m talking about the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting rule or BOI Reporting requirement from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the Corporate Transparency Act.
Today I’m going to share what I learned in my research of the ruling. I’m going to go through this in a Q&A format that traces the path I took and the questions that came up for me as I determined whether or not I would be eligible and then what the registration process entailed.
Hopefully it’ll help you jumpstart your own research.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode139.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and I’m not giving legal advice here. This is strictly for informational purposes and it’s up to you to ensure your business is in compliance with all applicable laws.
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
With the turn of the calendar, many of us are closing the fiscal years for our businesses and wrapping up our bookkeeping for the year in anticipation of the tax season ahead.
I am a HUGE fan of a low-stress tax season and the way to accomplish that is to get started early and tackle one step at a time.
Which is why I invited back to the podcast, Andrea Yahr, a certified tax preparer, to get us going.
Andrea’s first appearance on the Music Studio Startup podcast was back in Episode 012 when she talked about Business Structures and Their Tax Implications.
Today Andrea is back to talk about some tax basics for self-employed teachers, how to get a smooth start to the filing season (even if you feel behind already), and we also talk about some short and long-term strategies to consider to lower your overall tax bill.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode138.
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
I mentioned before that we will, again, be holding our studio launch grant competition this year! This grant is to help new or new-ish independent teachers launch their studios. It’s one of my favorite things that we do and it’s been so neat to see the impact the grant has on getting these studios off to a strong start.
Today I’m talking to our last MSS Studio Launch Grant competition winner, Anna Showalter. We talk about Anna’s studio, how she made use of the grant competition prize package, and also how she introduced some significant changes to her studio, including a 13% tuition increase and bi-weekly group lessons.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode137.
MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
It’s time for another quarterly check-in! Today I’m joined by Amy Chaplin, a fellow piano teacher and productivity nerd. Since it’s January, this review takes more of an annual review perspective as we look back on 2023 and look forward to 2024.
I was looking forward to this conversation with Amy because I wanted an excuse to talk about apps and tools for organizing all the things life throws at us and I knew Amy would have things to say about this. The conversation did not disappoint. We gush over all our tools for project management, task management, lesson notes, and writing. And we talk about some of the tools we discarded in 2023.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode136.
In case you didn't catch our other quarterly check-ins from earlier in the year, you can listen to them here:
2023.Q1 Winter: MSS Episode 112 – Amy Elmore on 3 Mindset Questions to Ask Before Setting Your New Year’s Resolutions
2023.Q2 Spring New Harmony Podcast Episode 001B – Goal Setting Tips for Music Teachers: Part B
2023.Q3 Summer: MSS Episode 129 – Podcast – Andrea Miller – 2023 Q3 Recap
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind is open! Learn more.
Today I’m sharing part two of a two-part episode with my guest, Tony Parlapiano.
Teaching piano has taken many forms over the years for Tony. From being a travel piano teacher and teaching students homes, to teaching online during the pandemic and then sticking with it afterward, to the studio we’re going to hear about today, that more closely resembles a college program than your standard 1:1 or group lessons.
Over the summer, Tony was featured in our studio snapshot series. In that episode he alluded to his new online instruction model and I was very curious, but I knew it needed more time than we had then to really understand it, so that’s what we’re talking about in these episodes.
In Part 1, we talked more about the pedagogical and practical structure of Tony’s program and today we’re getting into the marketing and business side of things.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode135.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today I’m sharing part one of a two-part episode with a guest you’ve heard from before.
Teaching piano has taken many forms over the years for today’s guest, Tony Parlapiano. From being a travel piano teacher and teaching students homes, to teaching online during the pandemic and then sticking with it afterward, to the studio we’re going to hear about today, that more closely resembles a college program than your standard 1:1 or group lessons.
Over the summer, Tony was featured in our studio snapshot series. In that episode he alluded to his new online instruction model and I was very curious, but I knew it needed more time than we had then to really understand it, so that’s what we’re talking about today.
The first part of our interview, which you’ll hear today, is more about the pedagogical and practical structure of the program and then we’ll get into the marketing and business side of things in the second half, next week.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode134.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
The first quarter of the MSS Hub Mastermind program starts in just a few weeks. So if you’ve been curious about joining, now is a great time to get plugged in and start your year off strong!
Today I’m talking with my guest about her journey from book idea to selling the first 1000 copies. We talk about how she tried to publish through a traditional book publisher and ended up self-publishing, how she bootstrapped the first print runs, why she doesn’t expect to make a profit by selling on Amazon, and even how she made people angry with her marketing.
And if you're the kind of person who likes to hear the numbers, you're going to love this discussion because Crystal lays it all out there.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode133.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Happy new year! Today I've got a quick announcement about a live event we're holding TOMORROW morning (Thursday, January 4) as a kickoff to 2024. A bunch of you have already responded to the email about this event and registered, so I know it’s going to be a fantastic group.
In tomorrow's kickoff we'll talk through some of the questions I use to review the last year and guide my own annual planning.
Whether you’ve been doing annual reflections forever or you’re trying to figure out how to get started, I think this will be a good time of encouragement and motivation as we get in gear for the new year.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/000-january-2024-announcement.
Register for the 2024 Kickoff Event
Most teachers agree that one of the greatest indicators of whether or not a student will progress in music is not their innate talent. It all comes down to practicing.
Today's musician entrepreneur, Christopher Maloney, realized that there was a gap in where his adults were and where they wanted to be in their musical skills and that gap could only be traversed by practicing and, ideally, practicing more effectively. So he decided to tackle this challenge. Not in the form of a practice app, but by creating an online program, specifically for adult students, to teach them how to practice. Today we'll hear the startup story of that program, Practice Warriors.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode132.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today I have a return guest on the podcast! I did a two-part interview with Thomas Grayston, the developer behind the NoteRush note-reading app in episodes 021 and 022. In those episodes, we talked about how he turned NoteRush from a side project to a full-time gig and then we talked about the first steps a teacher might take if they have an app idea of their own that they want to bring to market.
In today’s conversation we get to hear all about the v. 2 release of NoteRush and we get to revisit some of the same topics we talked about 4+ years ago and hear how Thomas’s perspective has changed - or not - on these topics.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode131.
Schedule a complimentary mini-session with Andrea
Previous episodes with Thomas Grayston
Episode 021 – Thomas Grayston of Note Rush on Developing and Launching an App (Part 1)
Episode 022 – Thomas Grayston of Note Rush on Developing and Launching an App (Part 2)
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today, I’m deviating from our usual interview format to discuss a challenge that I’m sure all of us have experienced at one point or another and is especially common this time of year—managing life when it becomes overwhelmingly full.
In this episode I break down the process and strategies I follow in my own life to get through these times and calm the chaos.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode130.
A quick episode to wish you a happy thanksgiving and share a resource to aid your year-end tax planning.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023novemberannouncement
Today I'm continuing the pattern of quarterly check-ins that I've been doing all this year kind of on accident. Previously, I did these with Amy Elmore as we were launching the new Harmony podcast together. But today I'm solo, and I'm going to be recapping my quarter three: what I've been up to, what was challenging this quarter, and what I'm looking forward to in quarter four.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode129.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
Today I’m joined by David Smolover, a serial entrepreneur who has led an inspiring career in music education. You’ll hear about how he started the National Guitar Summer Workshop that has served up to 6k students, how he made his way into publishing instructional materials (both digital and physical), and how his response to a random cold email led to the start of the guided practice app that we’re diving into today.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode128.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
Music Studio Business Building 101
Business Finance for Music Teachers
MatchMySound 50% off code: MMS50 (case sensitive)
With Tonara’s announcement that they will be shutting down their practice app, a lot of teachers are looking for a replacement, so we thought it would be helpful to feature a few of the other apps in this space.
Last week we talked to Nicola Cantan about the startup story of her brand new app - Vivid Practice and today we’re rebroadcasting an episode with the founders of PracticeSpace, Robert Miller and Chris Mallett.
PracticeSpace was not the first business Robert and Chris started together - the first was their teaching conservatory, which you’ll also hear about in this interview.
A full transcript along with all the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode127.
MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind
MSS Episode 126 – Nicola Cantan on Building and Launching Practice App
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode126.
Today’s mini interview is with Scarlette Kerr, a teacher who went from having a very part-time studio while in grad school to building a strong student roster within seven months, even with COVID happening.
We talk about being a musician AND business owner, time management, and self-promotion.
Scarlette also happens to be the winner of the startup grant we awarded back in May 2020.
Find the show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini002rebroadcast2023
Today I’m talking to Jenny B Peters, a recently retired school music teacher who has had a very full - and sometimes challenging - career. Jenny talks about how budget cuts in her district prompted her to get really creative with her teaching curriculum and eventually led her to develop a series of ukulele books, videos, and online courses.
We get to hear how Jenny and her sister built that business, how they weathered some storms while learning a lot, and how they eventually sold it.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode125.
We commonly think of entrepreneurs as people who start businesses, but over the years I’ve really come to appreciate people who bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the work they do in existing organizations — sometimes these people are called “intrapreneurs.”
Today I’m talking to one such person - Chris Madden - who spearheaded the introduction of a new masters degree program at his university. You’ll hear about how proposing a new master’s program is a lot like pitching a new business, from the planning stage to the marketing stage.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode124.
Hey and welcome back! While you’ve hopefully been enjoying some much deserved rest and relaxation this summer, we’ve been busy behind the scenes here at Music Studio Startup and have some amazing things in store for you this fall! Today I’d like to highlight three of those things: upcoming podcast episodes, the new MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind, and the MSS Grant Competition.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023fallannouncement.
We're getting ready for a new season of Music Studio Startup beginning in a couple of weeks. As we bid farewell to summer, I've got another quarterly check-in to share with you.
In case you didn't catch our other quarterly check-ins from earlier in the year, you can listen to them here:
Winter Q1: MSS Episode 112 – Amy Elmore on 3 Mindset Questions to Ask Before Setting Your New Year’s Resolutions
Spring Q2: New Harmony 001B – Goal Setting Tips for Music Teachers: Part B
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode123.
MSS Mastermind + Entrepreneurs Hub is now open! Learn more.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Judy Naillon.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot023.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Armando Salas
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot022.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Carissa Pitkin Cox.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot021.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Holly Hornyan.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot020.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Tara Boykin.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot019.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Susanna Klein.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot018.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Boise Music Lessons founder, Angie Marianthi.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot017.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Lynn Zwinck.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot016.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Crystal Boyack.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot015.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Joseph Rocha.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot014.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Anna Fagan.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot013.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Janna Williamson.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot012.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today. Today I’m talking to Tony Parlapiano
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot011.
We have wrapped up another school year and another season of our long-format teacher interviews. But don't worry, we have NO intentions of abandoning your playlists this summer.
Listen in to hear about a returning series AND a brand new series coming your way!
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023summerannouncement.
My conversation today is the second in a set of two interviews from first-time parents talking about how they planned for parental leave. In both last week’s episode with Renee Shaw Nutwell and today’s episode with Jeremy Eikenberry, we talk about the goals these teachers had for their students and studios during their leave, how they attempted to plan for something that they didn't have full control over, how their plans played out in real life, how they transitioned back into teaching, and what they learned from the experience.
Our discussion centers around taking parental leave after the birth of a child, but the insights and takeaways translate to taking extended leave from a studio for any reason: vacation, sabbatical, health reasons, whatever.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode122.
Today's interview is on a topic I've never covered on the podcast before and it's not one that gets a lot of attention, but it’s a real thing that a lot of teachers have to navigate and it can be kind of complicated. I’m talking about taking an extended leave from a studio.
Our discussion centers around taking parental leave after the birth of a child, but the insights and takeaways translate to taking extended leave from a studio for any reason: vacation, sabbatical, health reasons, whatever.
My conversation today is with Renee Shaw Nutwell and it is the first in a set of two interviews from first-time parents (a mom and a dad) talking about how they planned for parental leave. We talk about what their goals were for their students and studios during their leave, how they attempted to plan for something that they didn't have full control over, how their plans played out in real life, how they transitioned back into teaching, and what they learned from the experience.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode121.
This interview is really fun, because it’s sort of a listener response to some previous interviews I did with teachers who used lead generation websites, like Thumbtack.com, to build their studios.
Today I’m interviewing a drummer who dove into teaching during the pandemic when gigs stopped. Rob had such great success building his studio that, even with gigs returning, he’s kept the studio open.
You’ll hear about the original episode that inspired Rob, how it led him to action, what his experience was like, and how the new-found stability of his teaching business is giving him freedom to make other career choices as a performing artist.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode120.
Today I have the privilege of interviewing Kayia Baker, the director of a non-profit music school from my own city - St. Louis!
In this interview we talk about how the program launched to 45 students in one location to now serving over 250 students in three different neighborhoods, we talk about what it takes to fund a program that provides free lessons to students while also paying teachers, and we talk about how the program is being modified to make an even greater impact and serve more students.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode119.
This time of year I get a lot of financial questions from teachers. We’ve just gotten through the holiday spending spree, new year’s might have inspired some financial goal-setting, and then there’s the looming tax deadline in April, so there’s a lot to think about.
Sometimes the questions I get are really specific to an individual, but lately a bunch of clients and listeners have said “hey, you talk about reviewing financials on a regular basis as a way of getting more familiar with my financial picture, but what exactly should I be reviewing?”
And they’re totally right, I haven’t been very specific here. So today I’m going to do that.
I’m going to show you how to find some key numbers on your tax return that can give you powerful insights into your business and personal finances.
A full transcript along with printable + digital resources to supplement this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode093.
Today we’re talking about all things non-profit management. My guest, Erin Parkes, founder of the Lotus Centre shares so many insights from her experiences working with a board of directors, crafting effective messaging for different stakeholders, managing a budget, and even dealing with burnout. All while keeping the mission of her organization front and center.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode118.
Many teachers are intrigued by the idea of introducing group lessons into their studios, but may feel like the hurdles to getting started are too high.
Today I'm talking to an Ohio-based teacher, Debra Mattera, who started her group lesson program by partnering with other organizations - first a music store and later local elementary schools. We talk about getting the word out to students, pricing, and maintaining strong relationships with important collaborators.
This program happens to be centered around piano, but there are plenty of takeaways that apply to group lessons for any instrument.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode117.
Will you be in Reno, NV for the MTNA conference next week? Find out how we can meet!
Not attending? No worries. We’ve got a great episode coming your way about starting group lesson programs in local schools.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023mtnaconferenceannouncement.
Today I’m talking to Noah Tretter, a guitar teacher who branched out from his private studio in Oregon to start a virtual multi-teacher studio during COVID.
One of the unique things about this studio, is the way its founder has tapped into charter school programs as a way of building the student base and making it possible for families to use educational funds provided by their state to pay for music lessons.
If this sounds intriguing, listen on.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode116.
Today I’m talking to Celeste Watson, the owner of a thriving private piano studio in North Carolina. We cover a lot of studio nuts and bolts in this conversation: things like studio policies, parent communication, handling tuition increases, setting expectations for new students, and much more.
But before we get into any of that, we talk about the journey it took for this teacher to get to the place where she could even consider full-time teaching. This journey included facing a playing-related injury and years of retraining, that eventually transformed her approach to teaching and influenced the way she built her studio.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode115.
Today we’re back with part two of a great conversation with someone you may have encountered on YouTube - The Ukulele Teacher aka John Atkins. John is YouTuber, Patreon creative, and now podcaster who got his start on YouTube back in 2011.
We talk about the opportunities and the challenges of being an early user of platforms like Patreon, how monetization on YouTube has changed over time, and how John is continuing to find new creative outlets to keep his work fresh and meaningful.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode114.
Today we’re back with part one of a great conversation with someone you may have encountered on YouTube - The Ukulele Teacher aka John Atkins. John is YouTuber, Patreon creative, and now podcaster who got his start on YouTube back in 2011.
We talk about the opportunities and the challenges of being an early user of platforms like Patreon, how monetization on YouTube has changed over time, and how John is continuing to find new creative outlets to keep his work fresh and meaningful.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode113.
Today’s episode is a little different than usual. Amy Elmore (who you may remember from Studio Snapshot 007) is returning to talk about mindset and goal-setting. We’re also pulling back the curtain on a little thing we’ve got in the works to release later this spring.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode112.
2022 has officially come to a close. With the turn of the calendar, many of us are closing the fiscal years for our businesses and wrapping up our bookkeeping for the year in anticipation of the tax season ahead.
I am a HUGE fan of a low-stress tax season and the way to accomplish that is to get started early and tackle one step at a time.
Which is why I invited back to the podcast, Andrea Yahr, a certified tax preparer, to get us going.
Andrea’s first appearance on the Music Studio Startup podcast was back in Episode 012 when she talked about Business Structures and Their Tax Implications.
Today Andrea is back to talk about some tax basics for self-employed teachers, how to get a smooth start to the filing season (even if you feel behind already), and we also talk about some short and long-term strategies to consider to lower your overall tax bill.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode111.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode110.
Today I’m joined by two guests who have started two businesses together: a thriving, multi-location conservatory, and a practice app to motivate and inspire students.
You’ll get to hear about how Chris and Robert manage both businesses and what they’ve learned along the way.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode109.
Today I have the pleasure of welcoming back Chris Swan, a guest who was on the podcast back in Episode 066. In that episode we talked about Chris’s studio STL Piano Lessons and all the changes he made in his first years in business to get his studio where he wanted it to be.
Chris was super transparent about the highs and lows he had experienced as a business owner, and he was really good at articulating the challenges he was facing, and how he was iterating along the way to address those challenges. It was a great conversation and if you haven’t listened to it, I highly recommend you do.
When I heard that Chris had sold his business in St. Louis, moved to New York City, and started a new studio, I knew I wanted to talk to him again to hear about this new chapter.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode108.
Over the next two episodes, you’re going to hear from two teachers who have moved and restarted their studios in new cities. The circumstances are pretty different, so I think you’ll enjoy hearing the contrast between the two experiences.
Today I’m joined by a teacher who relocated from Colorado to Utah. We talk about the steps she took and timeline she followed to close one studio and how she went about filling her new studio.
Here’s my conversation with Cheyenne Olson.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode107.
Today’s podcast hits on one of the harder aspects of being a music studio owner and one of the harder aspects of life in general: navigating through a personal crisis.
In a time of crisis, your world is turned upside down. You might be facing uncertainty, confusion, grief, pain, or a whole host of emotions, but the rest of the world is still turning.
And as business owners, taking time away to figure things out may not be as simple as calling your admin and trusting them to take care of all the logistics.
Today my guest, Leila Viss, shares the story of the crisis that hit her family a few years ago and how she journeyed through the first hours, days, weeks, and months that followed, both personally and professionally.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode106.
If you’ve been a music teacher for a while, you’re probably familiar with the most common studio management systems out there. And you may have noticed in the last year or so that one of these platforms got a makeover and a new name.
Music Teacher’s Helper and its counterpart for multi-teacher studios, Studio Helper, have become Duet Partner.
Behind the name change and rebrand, there’s also a new owner and CEO. Today I have the privilege of talking to Neylan McBaine about how she came to buy the business (teaser - that story wasn’t at all as I was expecting) and how she has navigated her first 18 months as CEO.
Here’s my conversation with Neylan
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode105.
Today we’re covering a topic that is a huge question for musicians and often a barrier for people considering self-employment. The topic is: health insurance. Whether you have it already, anticipate needing it in the future, or are shopping for it right now during open enrollment, this episode will help you understand what the options are and how you can make an affordable and informed decision.
My guest today, Daniel Dacquisto, was super thorough and helpful in breaking down everything you’ll want to consider when shopping and budgeting for a plan.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode104.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode000-Fall-2022.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot010.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Christina Whitlock.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot009.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Shelly Davis.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot008.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Amy Elmore. Here's Amy's snapshot.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot007.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Hannah Graf. Here’s Hannah's snapshot.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot006.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Amy Chaplin.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot005.
We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Steven Potts, owner of Pottshouse Music.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot004.
Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Abigail Proffitt. Here’s Abigail’s snapshot:
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot003.
Summary We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Candace Hamm, owner of Candace Hamm Piano Studio.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot002.
We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.
They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Ken Thompson, owner of Musical Arts Center of San Antonio.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot001.
It’s that time of year again! Time for the summer cohort of Business Building 101.
Here’s what a piano teacher, Sophie, says about the course:
"The Business Building 101 course was EXACTLY what I was looking for when I wanted to find a way to make my piano studio official. From the moment I signed up, I felt that Andrea was right there to hold my hand throughout the entire course. Her positive and engaging approach allowed me to feel welcome to inquire about any aspect of building my piano studio. Her knowledge of musicianship, entrepreneurship, web design, taxes, retirement is impressive and the course was organized and easy to follow. I can not stress how much this is a necessary course for any musician wanting to further their dream of owning their own successful music studio."
This course is available to go through anytime at your own pace, but a couple of times each year I walk through it in real-time with a live cohort of teachers over 10-12 weeks. This summer’s cohort will be starting the week of June 19th.
You can find all the details at musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101.
I have winners to announce! This week the judges made their final decisions to select the grant competition finalists and grand prize winner. Thanks to the following sponsors for making this year’s grant competition possible:
Duet studio management system, Alamo Music Center, Cascade Method, Dynamic Doodle Co., and Virtual Piano Studio.
I’ll be announcing those winners on the podcast and also sharing a mini interview with a teacher who has a unique niche and studio mission.
Find the show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini006.
Business Building 101 - summer cohort forming now!
With the school year coming to a close, I thought this would be a helpful time to talk about how I reset my schedule in times of transition.
I’m not talking about goal-setting today, although that might also be part of the “reset” process. What I’m talking about today is more about how I plan my days and weeks to create a rhythm in my life that is conducive to working on those goals.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode103.
Business Building 101 - Enroll now for next cohort!
https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101/
Today’s episode was prompted by questions I get from newly-graduated or soon-to-be graduated music majors who are just getting ready to launch their studios and want to know how to get started from nothing.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode102.
Get your application in for the $1,000 Studio Launch Grant competition! Deadline: May 15
Today’s mini interview is with Scarlette Kerr, a teacher who went from having a very part-time studio while in grad school to building a strong student roster within seven months, even with COVID happening.
We talk about being a musician AND business owner, time management, and self-promotion.
Scarlette also happens to be the winner of the startup grant we awarded back in May 2020.
Find the show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini002rebroadcast
Studio Launch Grant Competition: https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/grant/
Business Building 101: musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode101.
Apply Today: $1,000 Studio Launch Grant
Course: Business Building 101 for Music Teachers
Hi! It’s spring break here at Music Studio Startup headquarters, so I’m just jumping on the mic to give you some details on the 2022 studio launch grant competition. This program is for new and newish teachers who have been in business for fewer than three years. If this describes you - I hope you’ll apply. If it's not, I hope you’ll share this with anyone you know - a former student, your MTNA group, or your social media friends and followers.
We’re all about helping teachers launch successful careers here at Music Studio Startup and this grant is one way we get to do that. We’re joined by some amazing sponsors who are also huge champions of music teachers.
This year’s grand prize package includes a $1000 cash grant, funded by Music Studio Startup and Duet studio management software.
It also includes a year membership to the Cascade Method teacher training program created by the amazing Tara Boykin - who you might remember as the creator of NoteMatch, which we featured waaaaay back in Episode 007 of Music Studio Startup.
Stephanie Smith of Dynamic Doodle Co, which we featured in Episode 080 is giving the grand prize winner a $100 gift card to her shop of beautifully handcrafted teaching tools, stickers, buttons.
Steve Hughes of Virtual Piano Studio will be helping our grand prize winner up their technology game with a 1:1 technology session. Steve was featured in Episodes 033 and Episode 034.
And because no studio is complete without instruments, Alamo Music is generously setting our winner up with a $500 gift card toward instruments and accessories.
In addition to all those prizes, the grand prize winner will get startup coaching with yours truly through the next Business Building 101 course.
This prize package and the generosity of these sponsors has me super excited. I don’t know if you were adding up the value of that prize package as we went along, but there’s like $1600 of cash and gift certificates in there, plus the training program, consulting, and course. Incredible!
This grant competition is open to current college students who intend to open studios this year and studio owners who have been in business for fewer than 3 years and the deadline is May 15.
For all the details, go to musicstudiostartup.com/grant again, that’s musicstudiostartup.com/grant.
Don’t delay in getting those apps in. If you’re not eligible, hit that share button in your podcast app and send this to the first person who pops into your head.
That’s all for today. Thanks for listening! I’ll be back next week.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2022grantcompetitionannouncement.
I’m excited to be bringing the grant competition back this year.
The purpose of this grant is to help a new or new-ish music teacher launch their studio. The grand prize includes a $1000 cash grant and host of other tools, products, and training programs from our amazing sponsors, which include: Duet Partner, Fons, Cascade Method, Steve Hughes’ Virtual Piano Studio, Dynamic Doodle Co, and Alamo Music Center.
You’ve heard from the entrepreneurs behind several of these businesses already on the podcast and you know they are all huge champions of music teachers. I’m so honored to have their support.
You can find more details for the grant competition at musicstudiostartup.com/grant . That’s musicstudiostartup.com/grant
I often hear from music teachers who have aspirations to start nonprofit organizations or to have a non-profit component of their music schools. Their ideas are noble and awesome, but sometimes they never get very far off the ground because of the complexities that come with starting and maintaining an official tax-exempt organization, or 501(c)3, as it’s known here in the U.S.
Today's guests are going to talk to us about why that tax-exempt status is so important and introduce us to a little-known model that could be a game-changer for music teachers who want to make their community-oriented ideas become a reality.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode100
Today I’m back again with Karen Thickstun for the second part of our discussion on fundraising.
Our topic today is specifically about grants: how to find grants, how to evaluate if your project is a good fit, how to reframe a project to expand the grants you might be eligible for, and much, much more.
This topic is especially timely because there are a number of grants available for music teachers with spring deadlines. The Music Teachers National Association has several grants that Karen will mention, and our very own Music Studio Startup launch grant for new and new-ish studio owners is opening very soon. Both of these programs have deadlines in early May. So, get those items on your calendar and stay tuned to learn more.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode099.
You can hear part one of my conversation with Karen about general fundraising here: musicstudiostartup.com/episode098
Music Studio Startup Launch Grant: https://musicstudiostartup.com/grant
If you hit play on this episode thinking, "I don't have a nonprofit, so fundraising isn't really for me.", I think you'll be surprised by the discussion. Karen covers so many more types of fundraising than I ever would have thought about and talks about how even for-profit studio owners can use fundraising to stretch their impact. Be prepared to take notes!
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode098.
It seems fitting that this week, right around the two year anniversary of COVID shutting things down in the US, I’d be interviewing the inventor of a mask specifically designed for singers.
Today I’m talking to Stephanie Tennill, about what inspired her to design this mask, how she manufactured it, distributed it, and how, even as a for-profit business, she has prioritized helping others and giving back every step of the way.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode097.
Today’s podcast is part one of a two-part interview with the founder of a website that will be familiar to a lot of music teachers. That website is makingmusicfun.net.
This website is full of sheet music, theory worksheets, music lessons plans, and video lessons.
In our conversation, founder Andy Fling, takes us back to the very beginning of Making Music Fun and talks about how he monetized it from day 1 AND how his monetization strategy has changed over the years as the internet and social media have evolved and competitors have entered the scene. Andy is super transparent with his numbers and I think you’re going to find it really interesting.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode095.
Today’s podcast is part one of a two-part interview with the founder of a website that will be familiar to a lot of music teachers. That website is makingmusicfun.net.
This website is full of sheet music, theory worksheets, music lessons plans, and video lessons.
In our conversation, founder Andy Fling, takes us back to the very beginning of Making Music Fun and talks about how he monetized it from day 1 AND how his monetization strategy has changed over the years as the internet and social media have evolved and competitors have entered the scene. Andy is super transparent with his numbers and I think you’re going to find it really interesting.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode095.
Today’s interview is going to have you rethinking what you thought was possible for the lifestyle of a full-time piano teacher.
Today I’m talking to Anna Fagan about how she moved her house and studio on the road during COVID and now lives and teaches full-time from an RV. We talk about how they adapted the RV to create a teaching studio, the tech she uses, and how she guarantees she has the best possible internet connection, no matter where the RV is parked.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode094.
This time of year I get a lot of financial questions from teachers. We’ve just gotten through the holiday spending spree, new year’s might have inspired some financial goal-setting, and then there’s the looming tax deadline in April, so there’s a lot to think about.
Sometimes the questions I get are really specific to an individual, but lately a bunch of clients and listeners have said “hey, you talk about reviewing financials on a regular basis as a way of getting more familiar with my financial picture, but what exactly should I be reviewing?”
And they’re totally right, I haven’t been very specific here. So today I’m going to do that.
I’m going to show you how to find some key numbers on your tax return that can give you powerful insights into your business and personal finances.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode093.
You’ll recognize today’s guest from an episode a few weeks ago about the MusiCARES Volunteer Music Teachers Facebook group. Today Judy Naillon returns to talk about how she began offering recreational group ukulele classes to boost her studio income during the summer and expand her network for private lessons.
Anyone who struggles with the summer slump or just wants to try something new will be sure to enjoy what Judy has to share.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode092.
Today’s interview is with a solo teacher who wanted a way to better prepare her students for advanced music studies. Candace Hamm’s solution was to develop an intensive conservatory prep program. Although we talk a lot about the specific program, this interview has plenty to offer for any studio owner.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode091.
Often travel teaching is seen as a way to start a studio if you don’t have a permanent space to use or are trying to break into a new market, but today’s guest built his career in travel teaching for almost two decades.
Today’s interview with Tony Parlapiano is chock-full of practical advice on how to make it work as a travel teacher, everything from pricing to policies. There are insights both new and veteran teachers will appreciate.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode090.
Business Building 101 starts this week! Enroll today at musicstudiostartup.com.
I’m gearing up for the start of Business Building 101 next week. I’ve already gotten to talk to several of the teachers who are enrolled and they’re a great bunch.
Today’s episode is a mini interview with a past Business Building 101 participant - Carissa Pitkin-Cox. In it we talk about having clarity around a studio vision, how that influenced some key decisions and changes for this teacher’s studio (including a rate increase) and how she introduced those changes to families.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/mini005.
Today I want to take a few minutes to talk about the upcoming Business Building 101 course! I'm going to talk about what the course is and also what it isn’t.
But first, there's been a slight change of plans in the schedule. If you've been listening the last few weeks, you know that the next live cohort was set to start next week!
I'm excited to get this next cohort going, but I will be postponing the start date by one week. My family got covid this week and we just need another week to get back on track. So instead of starting the week of January 24, we'll be starting the week of January 31.
You can find all the details at musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101.
If you’ve ever searched for information about a college or university level music program, you’ve probably come across the website MajoringInMusic.com. Today I talk to the founder of this incredible resource - Barbra Weidlein.
We talk about how she stumbled into entrepreneurship, the inspiration for MajoringInMusic.com and some of the complexities of managing a website designed to serve different stakeholders.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode089.
Today’s episode is a slightly updated rebroadcast of an episode I released last year around this time. In it, I explained my process for reviewing the past year and setting goals for the year ahead.
This has been a year of leveling up for me. I’ve had some incredible professional opportunities come my way that have prompted a lot of personal growth. It’s been challenging in all the ways that make my entrepreneurial heart happy and it’s been a really fun year.
My goal-setting has leveled up this year, too. The process hasn’t changed substantially, but another year of practice has helped me become more honest with myself about what, realistically, will and will not get done.
I’ve also had to be more disciplined about what opportunities I do pursue in my studio and especially with Music Studio Startup, so spending time on the higher level visioning has been really important.
This episode is more about the nitty gritty details of quarterly and annual goal-setting and doesn’t get into the higher level stuff as much, but my free Vision & Values course does, so I’ll link to that in the show notes.
Speaking of show notes, there are a bunch of resources to accompany this episode. There’s a set of printable reflection questions to help you take stock of last year and also info about the upcoming cohort of Business Building 101 that will be starting the week of January 24.
A full transcript and all the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode088.
Business Building 101 - new cohort forming now - starting Jan. 24, 2022
I hope you’re all enjoying time with family and friends this holiday season! I’m keeping today’s episode short and sweet so you can keep those holiday vibes going.
As music teachers, we are often blessed to receive many, many gifts during the holidays. Where there’s a gift, there’s usually a thank you note to follow! Today I am sharing a super helpful 3-sentence thank you note template to help you knock out that thank you list with heartfelt and personalized notes in record time.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode087.
Today I’m talking to violinist and entrepreneur, Susanna Klein, about her multiple business projects. We talk about communication, rejection, psychology, intellectual property, and how she is learning and practicing for her own long game in business.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode086.
Welcome back and a HUGE thank you to everyone who reached out to express their excitement for the podcast returning - you all bring so much joy to my work and life!
Today I’m talking to violinist and entrepreneur, Susanna Klein, about her multiple business projects. We talk about communication, rejection, psychology, intellectual property, and how she is learning and practicing for her own long game in business.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode085.
Although the podcast feed has been quiet for a while, things have been all but quiet behind the scenes. New baby. New house. New work with a brick and mortar startup. And lots of new Music Studio Startup developments in the works, which I’ll be talking about more in the near future.
But today, I’m so excited to be back with a new interview for you!
Today’s guest, Lisa Spector, is a piano-preneur, a pet-calming maestro, and a piano ninja. And if you don’t know what those things are, listen on to hear Lisa’s fascinating journey as a performing musician, streaming music artist, and membership site creator.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode084.
Hey there! Just a quick pop in to say that I'm taking an early summer break this year. If you can call it a break...
I'll be taking some time off from podcasting to welcome another little human into the world.
I've already got an amazing lineup of episodes in the works for when I return, so make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss them when they start dropping.
I’ve gotten inquiries about whether or not I’ll be running a cohort through Business Building 101 this summer. The next live cohort will begin in the early fall (August/September), but you can get a headstart with the video lessons right now! The course is open to join anytime and you can jump into the next live cohort when it opens!
In the meantime, listen through the previous podcast episodes and keep in touch on Instagram, Facebook or at MusicStudioStartup.com.
Today I’m talking to the owner of a high end music school in downtown Boston, that serves mostly adults.
In this episode, you’ll hear about how the vision Alyssa had for her school has gradually come to fruition and how she’s grown as an entrepreneur, particularly in the area of finance, along the way.
If you’ve been listening to the show for a while now, you may have observed a theme I’ve been seeing that a lot of good startup stories include evictions or other real estate catastrophes, and Alyssa’s story delivers in this regard, too. I think you’ll really enjoy it.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode083.
[[Expand Online Summit - May 3-7]]
Free to register!
Masterclass: Business 101 - Setting Up Your Studio with Andrea Miller
Releasing on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 9am Pacific (available for 48 hours)
A few months ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jamie Slutzky of the expand online podcast to talk about some of the many ways music teachers can expand their businesses.
Today, I'm going to be rebroadcasting Jaime's show here on my feed.
But before I do that I want to talk about the Expand Online Summit that I briefly mentioned at the end of the show last week.
Jaime also happens to be the coordinator for this Summit. It features more than a dozen master classes and interviews with some fantastic music teachers and entrepreneurs.
I'll be presenting a master class on setting up your music studio. If you've ever been curious about my Business Building 101 course, this is like a super mini version of that course. I packed as much as I could into 25-minute master class so it’ll give you a really good start, and it's also a great opportunity to see if the full course might be up your alley.
The summit runs from May 3rd through 7th. I think it'll be inspirational and a great way to jump start your summer studio goals AND it's completely free.
I’ll have all the info in the show notes for this episode at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode082 and when you register, be sure to use my link so Jaime will know you’re with me.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode082.
We've talked about music publishing and app publishing and digital resource publishing on the podcast before, but in this episode we're talking about something different - fiction publishing!
And what does this have to do with music teaching or studio ownership?
Well, it just so happens that today's guest, Ashley Rescot, is a violin teacher who took her creative writing hobby and channeled it to address the student retention issues she noticed with her middle and high school students.
Ashley takes us behind the scenes into self-publishing short stories and novels. It may be a different industry, but it has plenty to teach us about the principles of business.
Full show notes and a transcript for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode081
Expand Online Summit - May 3-7 Free to register!
Masterclass: Business 101 - Setting Up Your Studio
By: Andrea Miller
Today’s guest is Stephanie Smith of Dynamic Doodle Co.. She’s another “accidental entrepreneur” who was pretty convinced that running a business other than a music studio was not something she’d ever want to do.
But when she had an idea for a studio incentive program that would require investing $250 in a button machine, she decided to offer her buttons for sale on Etsy in order to offset that equipment purchase.
In addition to recouping that investment many times over, she has also discovered joy in running a business and is here today to tell us the story.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode080.
Today I’m talking to Nick Schlueter, the co-owner of a type of business that we haven’t had on the podcast before. For lack of a better term, I’d call it a dueling pianos talent agency, but I suspect my guest would say that’s too fancy for a venture he and his business partner started kind of on accident.
In the interview we talk about how they got started, gradually made investments to offer more services, eventually expanded to other cities, and hired other performers along the way.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode079.
Today’s guest, Noa Kageyama, got an early start as a violinist studying with none other than THE Dr. Suzuki - founder of the Suzuki method. Everything was on track for his performance career when he took a class at Juilliard that exposed him to sports performance psychology and the trajectory of his career shifted.
Today Noa’s sharing the startup story of his blog, The Bulletproof Musician. He talks about how he thought he had run out of content ideas after the first month of writing, but has managed to keep finding interesting things to share more than 10 years later. Today the blog has expanded into a variety of work and now serves as his primary source of income.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode078.
Today’s guest, Tanuja Gomes, is a former banker turned entrepreneur and music school owner. Tanuja shares in the interview how she has built an incredible business over the last decade that serves 75,000 students. Along the way she’s raised money from investors, pursued different formats for music education, and even built some cool technology.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode077
I’m taking a spring break from podcasting this week to attend the virtual MTNA conference!
If you’re registered for the conference, I gave my presentation “Let the Website Speak: Crafting a More Effective Studio Website” on Sunday, but it’s not too late to view! It will be available for registered attendees through June 1.
I’ll be back next week with a regular podcast interview. :)
For more entrepreneurial resources for music teachers, including a FREE Vision & Values course, check out musicstudiostartup.com.
Today I’m talking to Joey Lieber, a music teacher and virtual music school owner, about how he’s made a shift from thinking about income goals to lifestyle goals and how that impacts the way he manages his personal budget and his time.
A full transcript for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode076.
Upcoming workshop: I will be presenting a session called “Let the Website Speak: Crafting More Effective Studio Websites” at the MTNA virtual conference this weekend. That session will go live on Sunday at 11am Eastern and I will be around to answer questions afterward. I hope to see you there!
“Let the Website Speak: Crafting a More Effective Studio Website”
Sunday, March 14 at 11am Eastern
Way back in Episode 048, Judy Naillon was on the podcast to talk about how she started a ukulele program in her studio. In our conversation, Judy had great things to say about the Rainbow Ukulele curriculum she purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers to lead this program.
A lot of you have asked about what it’s like to sell on platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers, so today I’m excited to welcome Shelley Tomich, the creator of the Rainbow Ukulele curriculum, to talk about how she started her TpT store and how it has given her flexibility in a season of life when her priorities shifted.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode075
Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
“Let the Website Speak: Crafting a More Effective Studio Website” on Sunday, March 14 at 11am Eastern as part of the MTNA Virtual Conference 2021
https://www.mtna.org/Conference/Home.aspx?hkey=cecd079e-f62b-4ed5-8575-57e2283ba248&WebsiteKey=5679cafc-84b2-4fd2-b431-bda8f7b0c53b
Today I’m talking to Mirka da Pieva, a piano teacher in Brazil who noticed a shortage of blogs and teaching resources available in Portuguese so she stepped in to fill the gap. She has grown her business to include a blog, in-person and online teacher trainings, and a collection teaching games.
She’s also done some very creative things to build a strong community of Portuguese-speaking teachers and to elevate music teaching as a viable profession in Brazil.
A full transcript and the show notes for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode074
Today I’m talking to two musicians about how they have made a career in music over the last 15 years. I think their story illustrates what it means to be, not just an entrepreneurial musician, but an entrepreneur in general.
You’ll hear about how they’ve made plans and pursued ideas, while keeping an open ear to what’s going on in the market and world around them, so they can respond with products and services that meet real needs and opportunities.
At points this has led them to make pivots. COVID has been one of these points, but we also talk about how the 2008 financial crisis impacted their work and how they bounced back.
Here’s my conversation with Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan.
The transcript and show notes for this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode073
Today I’m interviewing two piano teachers who, although they didn’t set out to start a business have, over the last decade, built a thriving enterprise and made a noticeable mark on the world of piano pedagogy.
You’ll hear about how they came to develop their own piano method, the humble beginnings of their first print runs, how they’ve expanded their distributor network to reach a global audience, and how they’ve grown as entrepreneurs through the process.
Enjoy my conversation with Katherine Fisher and Dr. Julie Knerr Hague of Piano Safari.
Full show notes and a transcript for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode072.
Today I’m talking to someone with a background in tech who came into music school ownership by opening a franchise! He brings a really interesting perspective to the conversation and there’s a ton to learn.
Enjoy this conversation with Ashwin Kotian from Bach to Rock - Cedar Park, TX.
A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode071
A number of podcast guests and teachers I’ve talked to over the last year have recommended the Profit First book by Mike Michalowicz and talked about the impact this method has had on their businesses.
Today’s guest, who comes from a background in finance and accounting, is going to explain the basics of how this method works and why you might want to adopt it for your studio.
Full transcript available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode070/
Business Building 101 starts this week!
This 12-week course is all about building a strong foundation for a financially-sustainable business, and I’ll be walking through it with another live cohort of teachers.
You’ll get weekly video lessons to complete whenever it’s convenient and you can join the live office hours to get personalized help and hang out with other teachers in the cohort.
Today’s mini interview comes from Jenica Nevala, a music school owner who already had a few years of studio-building under her belt before she joined the Business Building 101 cohort.
During the program, she made some significant changes in her policies that have made her business more sustainable and she later ran a bold promotion that brought in 10 new students in a week.
You can find the full show notes and links for the resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini004
Business Building 101 starts this week! As I mentioned in previous weeks, I’ll be bringing another live cohort of teachers through the Business Building 101 program.
This 12-week course is all about building a strong foundation for a financially-sustainable business.
You’ll get weekly video lessons to complete whenever it’s convenient and you can join the live office hours to get personalized help and hang out with other teachers in the cohort.
Today’s mini interview comes from Rachel Ehring who was part of the very first Business Building 101 cohort. Our discussion might stretch you to think differently about how you launch or expand your studio. We talk startup finances, laying the groundwork for a successful studio launch, and being flexible during COVID.
You can find the full show notes and links for the resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini003
Today’s mini interview is with Scarlette Kerr, a teacher who went from having a very part-time studio while in grad school to building a strong student roster within seven months, even with COVID happening.
We talk about being a musician AND business owner, time management, and self-promotion.
Scarlette also happens to be the winner of the startup grant we awarded back in May 2020.
The next cohort of Business Building 101 is starting this week! Enroll today at musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101.
Find the show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini002.
Often when I interview studio owners, there’s one specific element of their business that I want to highlight and delve into, but I’ve gotten to know today’s guest over the last year or so and there were so many big and little things about the way they run their studio that are really cool and I wanted you to hear about.
We’ll touch on a lot of different topics from developing a unique teaching method and calendar, to branding, to building community partnerships,to having co-owners - we really cover a lot and I think you’ll draw a lot of inspiration from today’s conversation with Angie Marianthi of Boise Music Lessons.
Find a full transcript for this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/episode069
Another live cohort of Business Building 101 will be starting January 18. Register at musicstudiostartup.com/courses
Business Building 101 is starting January 18! Join this live cohort by registering for the course at musicstudiostartup.com/courses
Happy new year! As I ease back into my regular routine, I’m popping in today with a quick announcement and a mini podcast interview.
First, the announcement. As I mentioned in previous weeks, I’ll be bringing another live cohort of teachers through the Business Building 101 course starting January 18.
This 12-week course is all about building a strong foundation for a financially-sustainable business.
You’ll get weekly video lessons to complete whenever it’s convenient and you can join the live office hours to get personalized help and hang out with other teachers in the cohort.
Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be bringing you some bonus mini interviews with teachers who went through the Business Building course last summer. Their situations and goals are so different, so you’ll get to hear a bunch of different perspectives.
My guest today is a multi-instrumentalist and former full-time school music teacher who decided she wanted to become a private teacher so she could have more flexibility in her life. You’ll hear how Anna Mayer is navigating that transition and how she’s intentionally designing her studio to get that flexibility.
Business Building 101 will be back in January! Join this live cohort by registering for the course at musicstudiostartup.com/courses
What a year it’s been.
It’s been hard in big, life-altering ways and in incredibly mundane ways.
This year, more than usual, I’m looking forward to the symbolically fresh start and optimism that a new year brings. With that new year around the corner, goal-setting is on my mind.
Today I thought I’d share my own goal-setting process. If you already have a process that works for you, don’t feel the need to switch. If you’re looking for one to try, this might be a place to start!
You can find the reflection questions and transcript for this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/episode068
You might already be cringing at the title to this episode, so first a little background. Jason and I are both alumni of an entrepreneurial training program called College Works Painting. My time in this program was hugely influential in my life and career and it’s where I got my first taste of sales training. I am constantly drawing on my sales experience from this business and Jason has taken this many levels beyond what we learned back in the day, so I’m excited for what he has to say.
I know sales is a topic that musicians tend to cringe at. Actually, people in general tend to feel this way, but I think you’ll find Jason’s approach really refreshing and not at all icky.
I thought this was a good topic to cover as the new year approaches and it’s often a season where we get a lot of inquiries. You’ll get tons of actionable advice on how to handle those initial inquiry emails, how to follow up with prospects, and even how to reach out to potential referring partners.
Full show notes and transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode067
BIG NEWS! Business Building 101 will be back in 2021 with another live cohort! Check out musicstudiostartup.com/courses to enroll.
Today I’m talking to a piano teacher who is in the early stages of transitioning his private studio into a multi-teacher studio.
In order to be sustainable, there are some foundational things that have to change to when you scale up from being a solo teacher studio to a multi-teacher studio, especially for owners who want to be strictly administrators and not also be teaching.
I really enjoyed this interview with Chris because you get to hear how he’s experiencing and troubleshooting some of the challenges through this growth. On top of that, he’s super honest and I always appreciate that transparency. Enjoy!
A full transcript and show notes can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode066
A couple of weeks ago I aired an episode with Ryan Benthall about different lead generation platforms like TakeLessons.com and Thumbtack. After hearing Ryan talk about the different platforms and the business models behind them, my economics nerd radar was buzzing.
This was a perfect illustration of incentives and how they influence consumer and business behavior.
I hope today’s episode, I’m doing a deep dive econ case study. We’ll be looking, primarily at TakeLessons.com, as an example of incentives at work. We’ll look at how incentives influence user behavior and outcomes, what happens when the business’s incentives and the user’s incentives are misaligned, and of course, we’ll be talking about why this matters for us as music studio owners.
A full transcript and show notes can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode065
Today I’m taking a break from the regular format to just say “thank you.”
Learn to grow your music studio with business resources for music teachers at musicstudiostartup.com
I get a lot of questions about online platforms like TakeLessons.com and Thumbtack, that connect teachers with students.
I haven’t used these platforms myself, but after Allie Tyler mentioned in our interview a couple of weeks ago how she used Thumbtack to build her studio, I wanted to investigate further.
When I met a teacher who had firsthand experience with several of these platforms, I jumped on the chance to pick his brain.
Read the full transcript for this episode here.
Today, on what happens to be Veteran’s Day in the US, I’m honored to be talking to a Vietnam Veteran and guitar teacher for a non-profit organization that aims to brighten the lives of veterans who suffer from physical and mental wounds from their times of service.
You’ll hear about how their mission is shaped by those they serve, how they raise funds for the program, and how they address some unique considerations when matching teachers with veterans and finding creative ways to make the guitar accessible.
Full transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode063
As I prep and schedule this podcast episode, it’s still October, but if you listen to it on the day it comes out, it’s the day after the presidential election in the U.S.
It’s been quite a year. Stress levels have been high. And I thought we might just need a little humor this week. So I’m rebroadcasting an episode I aired back in April.
I’ve got two musicians on the podcast today who are experts in pretty much every aspect of running a studio. We’re doing a rapid fire interview with some of the questions I get asked most often.
We cover a range of topics in today’s episode: everything from branding and marketing, to starting a new studio in a new state, to building a business model that prioritizes flexible time and passive income.
Allie talks about how a year of traveling and living in a van gave her clarity on her values as a teacher and entrepreneur and how she gradually built her new studio to reflect those values.
I think you’ll get lots of inspiration and ideas from this Colorado voice teacher.
Show notes and full transcript can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode061
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about fiscal sponsorship as a way of launching a foundation or community-oriented project without having to set up an official non-profit organization.
Today we’re shifting gears and I’m interviewing the executive director of a more traditional 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This foundation has a really interesting founding story and its director, Reed, has a lot of experience running non-profits, so I think you’ll learn a lot from the way he approaches business, branding, fundraising, and other interesting challenges he’s run into along the way.
Find show notes and a full transcript for this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/episode060
In last week’s episode, we got a great introduction to the concept of fiscal sponsorship from the San Francisco Study Center.
Today, I’m talking to a world-renowned bass player, Terry Miller, who has used the fiscal sponsorship model to start a foundation that brings music to kids, both locally and globally. Terry is joined by the head of the board for his foundation, Leslie O’Brein.
Show notes and full transcript available at musicstuidostartup.com/episode059.
I often hear from music teachers who have aspirations to start nonprofit organizations or to have a non-profit component of their music schools. Their ideas are noble and awesome, but sometimes they never get very far off the ground because of the complexities that come with starting and maintaining an official tax-exempt organization, or 501(c)3, as it’s known here in the U.S.
Today's guests are going to talk to us about why that tax-exempt status is so important and introduce us to a little-known model that could be a game-changer for music teachers who want to make their community-oriented ideas become a reality.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode058
Today I’m talking to the owner of a music school in the Boston area who started by teaching guitar out of her spare bedroom and now has a school with three commercial locations and a staff of over 30 teachers serving more than 500 students.
We talk a lot about finances in the conversation. More specifically, how Lauren decided when to bootstrap and when to take out a loan to finance her business growth. This episode provides a really helpful counterpoint to last week’s bootstrapping conversation with Jaclyn Bradley.
I hope listening to both last week’s episode AND today’s episode gives you insight as you think about your own business financing options.
Full transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode057
Today I’m talking to the owner of a studio that has only been open for a couple of months! I know a lot of my listeners are in the early stages of starting their businesses so hopefully this provides some encouragement. Although we’re recording during the pandemic, which presents its own special set of challenges, we also talk about some classic startup challenges, like financing and getting paid as a studio owner.
Today I’m talking to the owner of a boutique voice studio about how she rebranded her studio to make it more about her students and less about her. You’ll hear all about how she introduced the new brand, how it was received by studio parents, and how her students have taken ownership of the studio community, to the point where they’ve even developed their own gang sign.
There’s a lot of food for thought in the episode with Leischen Moore.
Full transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode055
Today’s guest is both a music teacher (drummer!) and counselor. Johnny Hunter, talks about how we can make our studios safe spaces for students going through hard things and also how to handle situations where we might notice behavior or have a conversation with a student that is concerning.
Full transcript and show notes at musicstudiostartup.com/episode054
New episodes coming next week! Check out resources for music teachers at musicstudiostartup.com or on Instagram at instagram.com/musicstudiostartup
I’m on summer break so this week I’m rebroadcasting a previously-aired episode of Music Studio Startup.
Show notes from when this episode originally aired can be found at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode017/
I’m on summer break so this week I’m rebroadcasting a previously-aired episode of Music Studio Startup.
Show notes from when this episode originally aired can be found at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode025/
I’m on summer break so this week I’m rebroadcasting a previously-aired episode of Music Studio Startup.
Show notes from when this episode originally aired can be found at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode016/
I’m on summer break so this week I’m rebroadcasting a previously-aired episode of Music Studio Startup.
Show notes from when this episode originally aired can be found at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode013/
I’m on summer break so this week I’m rebroadcasting a previously-aired episode of Music Studio Startup.
Show notes from when this episode originally aired can be found at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode006/
You’ll recognize today’s guest from an episode a few weeks ago about the MusiCARES Volunteer Music Teachers Facebook group. Today Judy Naillon returns to talk about how she began offering recreational group ukulele classes to boost her studio income during the summer and expand her network for private lessons.
Anyone who struggles with the summer slump or just wants to try something new will be sure to enjoy what Judy has to share.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode048
I invited today’s guest to be on the podcast because her studio has a deep sense of focus and alignment that has made her really effective as a teacher and independent studio owner. Every aspect of how she runs her studio points to her core values. It’s a studio that exudes care, connection, and creativity. It didn’t start out that way, though. Today Natalie takes us through the journey she’s been on that has made her studio what it is today.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode047
You can register for the Vision & Values course mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Earlier this spring I talked about how crises can breed creativity, and today’s episode is an example of that. Today’s interview highlights one teacher’s response to the hardships she was seeing as a result of COVID.
Hear how Judy’s desire to help a friend who was sick, potentially with coronavirus, led her to start a group for teachers to support each other through times of medical and mental health need.
For links and a full transcript, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode046
Your ratings and reviews help Music Studio Startup get discovered by other teachers!
iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify
Today I’m talking to Kathy Rabago, a piano teacher and music school owner, about how she pivoted the in-person camps her teachers had planned into online camps in response to COVID. And in the process, she created passive income generators for her teachers.
Kathy shares great insights for anyone thinking about running online camps and also about what it means to be a business owner.
The winners of the $500 studio grant competition have been announced! Check out musicstudiostartup.com/grant2020
A HUGE thanks to our sponsors, Fons and GEM Studios, for their support of that competition.
The summer Business Building program starts this week and enrollment closes on Friday, June 19. Enroll at musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode045
Today I’m interviewing Tara Hall, a teacher whose studio has actually GROWN during the coronavirus lockdowns. Tara enrolled 30 new students (and counting!) in six weeks. And the best part? She didn’t spend a dime doing it.
Tara’s story will be encouraging for any teacher whose enrollment has taken a hit in the transition to online lessons and she shares a simple strategy you can implement today that brought in 10-15 new students.
A full transcript and list of resources for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/Episode044
A quick reminder that enrollment for the summer Business Building program is open, but it won’t be for long. The program officially starts next Monday, June 15. Enroll today at musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
Today I’m talking to a young teacher who’s only been in business for a year and a half, but that hasn’t kept her from having a long-term perspective for the way she positions and builds her business. She talks about the interesting niche she identified for her vocal coaching studio and she offers some great encouragement for teachers who may feel like their studios have taken a step backward in the current health and economic crisis.
Thanks to everyone who submitted an application for the studio launch grant! That deadline has now passed, but enrollment for the summer business building program is still open. More about that at the end of the episode.
For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode043
Business Building 101 musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
In today’s solo episode, I share a framework for thinking about when and how to reopen your studio for in-person lessons during the COVID pandemic.
A full transcript and list of resources for this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/Episode042
Don’t forget - applications for the $500 studio launch grant are due this Sunday, May 31. Details can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/grant2020
The summer Business Building program starts on June 15. More info can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
When we think of graphic design for a music studio, we might first think of logos. That’s definitely a start, but today I’m talking to graphic designer Gillian Miller about how developing a more holistic brand identity can help build a studio.
If you’ve ever felt undervalued as a professional or just want to elevate your career, this is definitely a topic to think about.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode041
[$500 Music Studio Launch Grant]
Don’t forget! The deadline for the studio grant is May 31. Visit musicstudiostartup.com/grant2020 for details and to apply.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Fons and GEM Studios for their contributions to the competition.
[Business Building Program]
Get your studio set up for growth and sustainability in this 12-week program. musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
[Vision & Values course] This free course can help you take the first steps to guide your brand identity. Enroll at musicstudiostartup.com/vision
In this episode, I share some details about the Music Studio Startup summer Business Building program and the grant competition for new (and new-ish) music teachers!
My guest today is Eric Branner, a guitar teacher, mentor, and a co-founder of Fons, an online scheduling and billing platform.
If you’ve been listening to Music Studio Startup for a while, you may have heard this interview with Eric before, but I wanted to bring it back because 1) Eric is awesome and 2) because Fons is a sponsor for our studio grant competition! They’re huge supporters of music teachers and they’re setting up our grand prize winner with a 6-month Fons subscription.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode040
Business Builders program: musicstudiostartup.com/summer2020
Grant competition: musicstudiostartup.com/grant2020
I’ve got two SUPER exciting announcements. Listen in to hear about two Music Studio Startup programs that will help you build your studio this summer. One involves an epic prize package, including a $500 cash grant!
2020 Summer Business Building Program
2020 Music Studio Startup Grant
In today’s conversation, we get to hear from the owner of a relatively new music school. We’re talking about the very earliest stages of building a music school and some of the practical steps Joseph has taken to finance his studio’s growth. We also talk about Facebook ads and conversion rates and all the fun stuff.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode039
To get updates on the finance course, check out musicstudiostartup.com/finance
Today is part two of my conversation with David Barnard. Last week, in Episode 037, David joined us to talk about the music cooperative as a business model that is helping teachers build sustainable studios by joining together.
Today David’s talking about how to form a cooperative. Some of our discussion applies specifically to coops, but a lot of our discussion centers around how to write a business plan, which is a great exercise for any teacher no matter what business model you’re using.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode038
For updates on the Finance course, visit musicstudiostartup.com/finance
Today’s guest comes to us from the UK to talk about another business model that is helping teachers make a sustainable living: the music-co-operative.
David Barnard of the Musicians' Union describes the culture shock teachers felt when the jobs they expected to always be there, suddenly disappeared, forcing them to become more independent and entrepreneurial.
Just a heads up, business culture and regulations are different around the world. The way the UK music co-ops handle lesson fees might not work where you live. Here in the US, the Federal Trade Commission would consider this price fixing a violation of antitrust laws.
With that disclaimer, you’re still going to get a ton of great takeaways about co-ops that you could apply in an American context.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/transcriptepisode037
FREE Course:
Vision & Values: A Studio Owner's Guide to Finding Focus in a World Full of Options
www.musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Last week the U.S. Congress passed the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history and it has a lot to offer individuals and small businesses.
In today’s podcast, Scott Stratton, a financial advisor and a musician himself, breaks down the components of the CARES Act that impact music teachers and studio owners and tells us our next steps.
Check out the show notes at musicstudiostartup.com/episode036 to get links to the applications and articles Scott mentioned.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode036
To register for the Vision & Values course, visit musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Today I’m joined by TWO very special guests who are experts in pretty much every aspect of running a studio. We’re doing a rapid fire interview where I ask them to share their advice on some of the questions I get asked most frequently.
For full show notes, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode035
To register for the Vision & Values course, visit musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Happy April Fool's Day!
Today I’m joined again by Steve Hughes. Last week, in Episode 033, Steve shared the story of how he transitioned his studio from in-person lessons to a completely virtual studio. Today he’s back to talk about the nuts and bolts of teaching online.
Steve describes the technology requirements for a “basic” online studio, an “enhanced” studio, and an “optimal” studio, depending on the level of investment that makes sense for your business.
Steve also addresses the “limitations” some teachers feel when they initially try online lessons and he talks about how we can lean into the unique strengths of online lessons and take advantage of unique teaching strategies only possible through online teaching.
To hear about Steve’s studio, check out musicstudiostartup.com/episode033
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode034
To register for the Vision & Values course, visit musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Today’s interview is with a teacher who decided to move his entire piano studio from live, in-person lessons to online lessons.
Thanks to the current pandemic, this probably describes most of our studios right now, but Steve Hughes made this transition in 2018, when it was relatively uncommon to teach online and his motivation to do so was to create a better life for himself and his family.
Steve’s story is a great example of how a personal vision can lead to creativity in how we set up our studios and finding ways to uniquely fill gaps in the market.
For a full transcript of this episode, visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode033
To register for the Vision & Values course, visit musicstudiostartup.com/vision
Coronavirus is impacting music teachers and music lesson studios in cities around the world. In this very brief message, I share some suggestions for how to lessen the impact on your studio.
More resources are available at musicstudiostartup.com.
Instagram: @musicstudiostartup
Facebook: @musicstudiostartup
Today’s interview digs into the group lesson studio model. My guest, Jake Estner, shares the logistics of how he runs his guitar studio, how he schedules groups, how he thought about pricing, and more. He also answers an important question I hear all the time: “How do you switch a studio from private lessons to group classes?”
Jake talks about how he thought through what was important, pedagogically, before suggesting group lessons and did some beta tests with a few students before making group lessons the default in his music studio. Jake even explained exactly how he communicated to students that group lessons are not “less than” or somehow inferior to private lessons, they’re different in some ways that also make them awesome.
For full show notes visit musicstudiostartup.com/episode032
Ken is on a mission to save classical music. His story is a testament to how long-term focus on one mission can have incredible results. About 20 years ago he opened the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio, a music school which, at the time of this recording, had 1,125 students and 39 teachers.
In this episode, Ken talks about how his school came to be so large and how figuring out a viable financial model for his business was critical to being able to provide sustainable careers for his teachers.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode031
Do you have a vision or vision statement for your studio? In this episode I share some questions I think about to get a more vivid picture of what I'm trying to accomplish with my music studio and business.
I also talk about Vision's nemesis: FOMO. It's real and it's constantly trying to sabotage our focus.
To get a printable version of the questions from this episode, go to musicstudiostartup.com/episode030
Don't forget to follow Music Studio Startup on Instagram or Facebook at Music Studio Startup to get all the details on the upcoming vision workshops!
I’m going to be taking the summer off of podcasting. I don’t like taking breaks, but I think welcoming a new little human into the world warrants some time away.
I’ve already got some really fascinating podcast episodes lined up for the fall and I’m working on some cool business planning resources that have grown out of the conversations I’ve had with many listeners and clients over the last year, so I’ll be getting those ready to share with you in the fall, so stay tuned on social media for those updates!
And if you’re looking for a professional development opportunity this summer, consider the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in the Chicago area! I’ll be presenting in the Student and Young Professional Pre-Conference Track and I’d love to connect if you decide to come.
Thanks for listening I’ll be back!
Today’s guest, Lee Stockner, started out as a traditional, classical piano teacher, but when he had the opportunity to teach a student with Autism, he found some of his personal experiences with ADD made him able to relate, and teaching students with special needs became Lee’s niche.
On Lee’s journey to find ways to be a better teacher to his students, he developed creative solutions to the challenges they were facing and OTHER businesses ended up growing out of these solutions. It’s been an interesting journey!
Full show notes available at ttps://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode029/
With spring officially here, that means recital season for so many music teachers. Today we’re taking the branding conversation we been having over the last few episodes, and applying it to our studio events, like recitals!
Joining me is Allison McDonald, an event planner from St. Louis.
Now, I know most of us aren’t hiring event planners to coordinate our recitals and the majority of our prep time is probably spent choosing rep and rehearsing students. But while we’re on the topic of focusing our studios to serve our ideal students well and communicating our brand values through the way we run those studios, it got me thinking about recitals and how we might approach those events with more intentionality.
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode028/
When Tim Topham was trying to make a living as a music producer and it wasn’t going well, he started taking on piano students as an additional source of income. In our interview, he talked about how little he knew about teaching at that stage.
Over time, Tim discovered his unique teaching style lent itself particularly well to teaching teens and students who were feeling dejected by their current music lesson experience.
His studio has now become known for his creative teaching techniques and attracts students who are looking for something different. Tim is known worldwide as a thought leader on creative piano teaching and the host of the Creative Piano Teaching podcast.
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode027/
Nicole Riccardo is a flute teacher and branding consultant. Today we talk about how music teachers can identify a niche and then how to use that focus to strengthen our marketing.
Nicole outlines some great questions music teachers can ask themselves to start developing their brand and also questions to ask periodically down the road to maintain focus and growth.
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode026/
Stephanie is a classically-trained opera singer turned voice/presentation/sales coach. This interview blurs the line between an entrepreneurial music teacher sharing the evolution of her voice studio and a communication expert sharing a mini sales workshop. It’s one you’ll want to listen to more than once!
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode025/
Today’s show follows a slightly different format because we’re talking about how to prep for taxes.
I’ve got five tax prep tips to share and details about an upcoming Self-Employment Tax Crash Course webinar that I’ll be offering on Friday, March 1, 2019.
Register for the webinar here!
Full show notes available here https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode024/
Eric was a third-generation music teacher making a great living when he got hooked up with a tech business founder looking for a new project. Eric realized he was spending a lot more time on admin tasks than he realized, so together they launched an online payment and scheduling app called Fons.
If you’re familiar with Fons, you might be surprised to learn what the original vision was for the platform and how they got to the platform they have today.
Eric loves mentoring students in 1:1 lessons and continues to teach 30 students a week while running Fons, but he has changed the way he handles payments in his business after his research for Fons revealed there might be a better way!
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode023/
Today’s podcast is part two of my interview with Thomas Grayston, the developer of the Note Rush app. (iTunes and Google Play)
In it, Thomas puts on his app developer hat and guides us through the first steps teachers can take if they have app ideas they want to bring to market. There is a TON of information in this episode, so be prepared to take notes!
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode022
Today’s episode is the first of a two-part interview with Thomas Grayston, the developer of the Note Rush app.
In this week’s episode, Thomas puts on his entrepreneur hat and shares his startup story. In next week’s episode, he’ll put on his developer hat and talk about first steps non-technical teachers can take if they have app ideas that they want to bring to market.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode021
I have to take a quick break from the podcast to move Music Studio Startup HQ (and the rest of my life) from Maryland to Missouri!
If you haven’t heard the earliest episodes the podcast, now is a good time to catch up. If you want to read about the steps I’ve been taking to close and transition my studio in Maryland, you can check out those details on the blog!
Moving - Part 1: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Moving - Part 2: Making & Communicating Plans
Cindy Hsu is from a slightly different category of entrepreneur than my usual guests, but she has such a great sense of hustle and so many insights to share on building an audience. I know I picked up some gems to apply to my business endeavors!
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode020/
A lot of entrepreneurial stories have meandering starts, often with setbacks and challenges that test a founder’s dedication and perseverance as much as the business idea itself. Today’s guest has one of those stories, but she stuck it out and made it to the other side. Here’s our conversation!
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode019/
Last week we heard from Jolene Madewell, who used Instagram and other social media to build her online flute studio, so I thought talking to a full-time digital marketer would be a great follow-up.
Today I’m talking to Molly Marshall about how local businesses like music studios can set themselves apart on Instagram. She talks about using hashtags, geotags, video, and good ol’ fashioned networking to establish a presence in our local communities.
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode018/
Lots of teachers transition in-person students to Skype students out of necessity when someone has to move, but today I’m talking to a flute teacher who has done the opposite.
When Jolene’s local studio wasn’t gaining traction, she decided to focus on teaching virtually. She ramped up her social media presence and built her studio of mostly online students. After a couple of years, her local community started taking notice of her work online and she started picking up more in-person students as well!
There are a lot of gems for traditional and online music teacher in this episode.
Full show notes available at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode017/
Today Lance LaDuke of Carnegie Mellon University shares the story of his winding career and how he created his dream job encouraging and mentoring music students who want to pursue entrepreneurial ideas.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode016
Dr. Joel Pierson, founder of Sadsap Music and creator of the “You Suck at Piano” series, gives us an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how he raised $85,000 in his first Kickstarter campaign.
Joel tells us about the thought process behind setting a good Kickstarter budget, what it was like working with a PR firm, how crazy expensive international shipping can be, and some of the other surprises that came up along the way.
He also talks about his experience trying to get a publisher, being turned down, and then being pursued by a publisher after the early success of his Kickstarter and eventually working with them. Through all this, Joel shares his skepticism for the value of traditional music publishers in the 21st century.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode015
Shawn Bartley is a business lawyer in Maryland. In our discussion, he shares practical steps we can take to protect our music studios, collect payment, and minimize our tax burden. We discuss what to include in teacher and student contracts, what records we should keep in case we need to defend our businesses in a tax audit or in court, and we discuss some of the hard choices teachers have to make.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode014
Ashley’s own journey as a church musician led her to start a blog and create resources for others who have found themselves in similar roles.
Last year she began to monetize her blog by creating and launching two online courses. In our conversation, Ashley shares tons of practical advice on the steps she went through to validate, create, and market her courses.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode013
Andrea Yahr, accountant and tax preparer, explains the different business structures (sole-proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp) music teachers can choose from, and when different structures might make sense.
She also clear up some often misunderstood information around self-employment taxes and shares loads of resources.
Full show notes available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode012
Webinar
The Nice Teacher’s Guide to Tough Conversations (or, how to enforce your studio policy and still be a nice person :) )
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 at 1pm (Eastern)
Register here: musicstudiostartup.com/webinar
Aaron Garner is a piano teacher and champion for innovation in music education. Like other teachers I’ve interviewed, Aaron’s business idea came from an inefficiency he noticed in his piano studio. The solution he came up with led him to raise $600k in capital and start a software company called Piano Marvel.
Full show notes available at https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode011/